Error Code: 0xc0000034 in Windows 8 - Boot Configuration Data file missing required information

Anonymous

I have Dell Inspiron 14z Ultrabook and recently received this error message after having no previous problems with the laptop. Dell tech support ran me through hard drive tests and no problems were found. I was told the only way to fix this issue is to reinstall the Operating System, which will cause me to lose all my files and applications I have installed.

Is there any other way to fix this problem so that I will not lose everything? And how do I prevent this issue from happening again?

Very disappointed!

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Anonymous

Hi,

Thank you for posting the query in Microsoft Community and we are glad to help you.

As per the issue, you get an error message “boot configuration data file is missing some required information” along with the error code “0xc0000034” when you boot to the computer.

I would like to gather some information on this issue to get a clear picture:

Did you make any hardware or software changes to the computer prior to this issue?

Perhaps, Windows boot files might be missing which are important to boot into the computer.

Let’s try Automatic Repair for Windows 8 on the computer and check if it can resolve the issue.

You may follow the methods:

Method 1: Booting to Recovery Environment with Windows 8 installation media.

Please follow the steps given below. Insert the Windows 8 installation DVD in the DVD ROM and restart your computer.

a) After you boot your computer using Windows 8 DVD or System Repair Disc, a black screen appears with gray text "Press any key to boot from CD or DVD". Press any key.

b) Select the correct time and Keyboard type.

c) Click Repair your computer in the lower left corner.

d) Select Troubleshoot from Choose an option screen.

e) Click Advanced options in Troubleshoot screen.

f) Click Automatic Repair from Advanced Options screen.

g) Next, choose the operating system by clicking on its button.

h) Windows 8 will look for problems on hard drive(s) and verify that all required files are intact.

Method 2: If automatic repair doesn’t help to repair the startup files, you may try to repair them using these commands through Command Prompt under Advance Options.

Refer to the steps:

a) After you boot your computer using Windows 8 DVDor System Repair Disc, a black screen appears with gray text "Press any key to boot from CD or DVD". Press any key.

b) Select the correct time and Keyboard type.

c) Click Repair your computer in the lower left corner.

d) Select Troubleshoot from Choose an option screen.

e) Click Advanced options in Troubleshoot screen.

f) Click on command Prompt.

g) Type these following commands and hit enter after each line of command:

Bootrec /fixmbr

Bootrec /fixboot

Bootrec /scanos

Bootrec /rebuildbcd

Please reply us if the issue still persists.

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248 additional answers

Anonymous

2014-02-01T04:37:38+00:00

Am I able to do this from a USB? My younger cousin's laptop is having this problem and it doesn't have a disk drive. She also says it didn't come with any disc. Can I download the system repair and put it to a USB?
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Anonymous

2014-01-24T10:58:43+00:00

Automatic repair doesn't work for me.

Once I enter the Bootrec /rebuildbcd I get the option for add installation to boot list

And upon choosing Yes - get the message "A device attached to the system is not functioning"

I'm trying to run Windows 8 on a Mac Pro (late 2013) via Bootcamp.
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Anonymous

2014-01-18T14:23:52+00:00

I had this same issue. Here's how it happened on mine.

I have a Dell desktop computer. I used the Dell "backup" option and backed my system up to a USB hard drive. I put it in a closet. Forgetting that it had Windows 8 backup stuff on there, I connected it to my computer's USB port.

I've had this similar situation with my wife's computer. Essentially, your computer sees the backup stuff as another way to boot Windows, so it changes where to boot Windows from (or, it bumps the normal/main boot partition out of whack in the config file). Everything seems fine and dandy until you reboot the next time and it's looking in the wrong place for your OS drive.

I used Paragon Migrate OS to SSD's recovery media (CD or DVD) that I had created when I first migrated my OS to an SSD that I installed. There is an option to fix this kind of stuff. You have to manually go into the settings on there and change the partition your OS partition/drive is. It took a couple tries of randomly tinkering around, but once I got the changes to actually take/apply, then the computer knew where the OS partition was and successfully booted.

None of the suggestions (auto repair and/or DOS commands listed elsewhere in this thread worked for me). It's pretty said when Windows' emergency recovery stuff doesn't even fix their own OS, but a third party company's can.

I'm also deathly afraid of creating any kind of backup on any kind of USB media (thumb drive or portable hard drive) for fear that it will turn the next computer I put it in into a ticking time bomb.

TLDR -- try Paragon Migrate OS to SSD3's recovery media builder to see if you can build a recovery CD / DVD on another computer and tinker with that.
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Anonymous

2014-01-15T16:13:07+00:00

Yes, you will lose all data. Lesson learned for me.

I'll be doing more back ups in case this happens again.

It's unbelievable that Microsoft has not come up with a fix for this that doesn't require a full re-install.
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